High-speed rotary device.



No. 897,916. PATENTED SEPT. s, .1908 H. A. MYERS.

HIGH SPEED ROTARY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1907.

2 SHBETSSHEET 1 No. 897,916. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908.

H. A. MYERS.

HIGH SPEED ROTARY DEVICE,

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1907.

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HUBERT A. MYERS, OF GOSHEN, INDIANA.

HIGH-SYEED ROTARY DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. v Application filed January 21, 1907. Serial No- 353,204.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, HUBERT A. MYERS, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Goshen, Elkhart county, Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Imrovement in High-Speed Rotary Devices,

' of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cream separators,

" and contemplates a rotary self-balancing bowlthat is tosay, a bowl that is mounted for slight lateral movement suflicient to enable it to find its true vertical axis of rotation, at least a portionof such lateral movement being entirely free and unopposed, so that if sprin s areused for the u per bearing of the spin e of the bowl; sue springs will not oppose the slight lateral play or movement of t e bowl, or. at least will not oppose all of such movement, whereby the bowl is capable of rotating in a condition absolutely free from external unbalancing influences, such as might be due to spring pressed bearings or power transmitting connections, as will here .inafter'more fully appear.

Heretofore the balancing of a cream separator bowl has been. a matter of some difficulty, and has always been more or less of a problem in the manufacture and use of cream separatorsof this particular type. improved arrangement, however,involving a bowl which has a slight or limited amount of late'ral' movementfree from opposition or lateral thrust, the bowl is absolutely selfbalancing, and is free to readily find its true vertical axis of rotation, regardless of inequalities in the distribution of thefweight thereof, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

prises a casing or body A of any suitable form b To the foregoing andother ufsefulends, my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimech 1 In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a cream'separator embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the apex or lower end .of the inner spindle of the bowl of'the said separator. Fig.3 is an enlarged sectional view of the bearings and spindles by whichthe bowl isseparated for free and selfcentering rotation. Fig. 4, is a detail sectionalview of the tool-steel center pin by which the two spindles of the bowl are sup ported. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section on line 5-5 in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a cross section on line 66 in Fig. 3.

As thus illustrated, my invention comthe two spindles to permit play With my upright bowl B. It will be understood, of course, that the skimming or separating devices within the bowl may be made of any suitable known or approved character. The

or construction and adapted to inclose arotary said bowl is provided at its lower end with a spindle I) having a tapered and squared a ex or lower end portion b ing spindle C has its upper end held in a bearing a, and its lower end provided with a tool+ steel center pin 0 the latter having a socket the spindle portion b This center pin 0 is suitc adapted'to receive as shown in Fig. 3. ably secured to the spindle C, and supported in a thrust bearing 0 whereby the said outer spindle C is securely held against lateral movement and supported against downward thrust. It will be seen that the diameter of the inner spindle b is less than the diameter of thebore c of the outer spindle, thus insuring sufficient relative movement or play between the rotary bowl to center its elf during rotation. It will be understood that the engagement of the portions 0 and b is just loose enough to permit lateral or movement of the spindle b. In order to support the bowl in an approximately vertical position, and in as nearly .a' centered condition ,as possible when starting the rotation thereof, he bottom of the bowl is provided with a sustain any of the weight of the bowl, but which will sustain any lateral thrust of the bowl when itstarts-rotating, and while the speed is being increased to apoint where it will find its own center and acquire a selfsustaining rotation, much as a'top sustains itselfin an upright position upon its peg or apex. This ball bearing has the cup or outer ortion suitable bearings d around the spindle of the bowl. d which are suitably a plied to saidrods tend to yieldingly hold t e ball bearing in a central position, and are adaptedto yield The outer or inc osball bearing D which does not d thereof supported upon horizonv tally disposed rods (1 which are supported in I arranged at intervals The springs readily to any slight lateral thrust or wabbling movement which may characterize the initial rotation 6f the bowl, owing to some more or less serious unbalancing thereof, such as might result from an, uneven or non uniform distribution of the metal fromwhic'h the bowl and its part are made. The said ball'bearing is, however, preferably so constructed that it only receives the lateral thrust ofthe bowl during the initial rotation sequently, delicate balancing of the bowl is unnecessary as it is practically self-balancing and adapted to automatically adjust itself to find the true center or axis of rotation. One side of the bowl can besomewhat heavier than the other, and still the bowl will readily center itself and rotate freely and smoothly and without lateral strain on any of the bearings, and withoutcausingobjectionable friction.

.The outer spindle C is subject to no lateral strain whatever, as it is sufficiently roomy inside to permit the inner spindle to shift one way or the other to find the natural or true center of rotation.

Preferably, the spindle C is rotated by means of a worm-wheel E adapted to engage the worm F formed upon the outer surface of the lower end portion of the said'spindle.

The worm-whe cream from the mi E is rigidly connected with a pinion e, and this pinion" is adapted to en-' gage the teeth of a large gear wheel G, which latter is rotated by a crank g. In this way the speed of the crank is rapidly multiplied or increased, and by the'time the power thus transmitted reaches the spindle of the bowl the speed has become relatively high, at least sufficient to accomplish the separation of the r within the bowl. With a worm gear transmission of this character the self-centering rotation of the bowl is very important, as it leaves the worm F free from all lateral strain or undue friction, such as would result from unbalancing the bowl and insures a free and smooth meshing of the teeth thereof during rotation of the bowl. In this way I provide a creamseparator having provisions for rotating the bowl at a high rate of speed without danger of breakage or undue friction or bindin of the different parts, such as mi ht resu t-froin an unbalancing of the bow centering rotation, the bowl requires no delicate balancing or' adjustment and will always rotate freely and uietly and easily. v

It will be seent at the self-balancing bowl with which I thus provide a cream se arator is adapted to center or balance itsef upoi. the lower end of its spindle, which lower end of the spindle rests on a rotating member. As illustrated and described, this rotating member has another s indle whereby the bowl is practically provided with two spindles, one a rigid or bowl-spindle, and the other a power-spindle. The power-spindle is mounted in bearings, and means are provided for communicating motion to the power-spindleto rotate the bowl. Means Being left free for selfare also provided for communicating the ro tary motion from the power-spindle to the bowl-spindle, for the specified purpose. The lower end of the bowl-spindle, of course, rests asmuch as the communication of power thereto is balanced. By this I mean that .the power transmitting devices do nor subject the said spindle?) to any lateral thrust, and consequently said spindle is always free to move laterally to find the true axis of rotation. Such lateral movement is not even opposed by the s as previously exp ained, only act during rings i for these springs,

initial rotation of the .bowl, there being slight play or lost motion (as indicated at (Z between (1 and d which ives the spindle d free lateral motion within limits. In other words, after the bowl has once attained a self-sustaining speed of rotation, any slight lateral movement which it may then require is not opposed by the said springs. In this way, the bowl by rotating at'highspeed is subject to no lateral thrust or external un-- balancing influences, such, for example, as

would be the case when the spindle is subject to a direct lateral thrust by some form of power transmission gearing, or were the spindle held tightly for rotation in ordinary bearings. The worm gearing constitutes the power transmitting devices, and'the connection between the worm caring and the spindle constitutes means or equalizing or balancing the transmission of power to the spindle b-that is to say, for so communicating the power to said spindle that the latter is subject to no lateral thrust thereby. With this arrangement, the bowl seeks its own true center or axis of rotation unobstructed by any unbalancing influences exerted either by bearings or power transmitting devices.

At the same time, it will be seen that ower is communicated to the spindle throug or by way of the member upon which the lower end of the same rests, so that both the spindle and its support are caused to rotate. In this way the spindle is devoid of any ower transmitting connections which woul tend to exerta lateral thrustupon it, or to oppose its lateral movements, at any point above its lower end or point of support. So that in stating that the spindle b is free from lateral thrust by the transmission of ower'thereto, I mean that the same is not subject to lateral thrust and does not have its free lateral movement in any'way opposed by the power transmiss on atany point above its lower end or portion where it more or less loosely -connects with the rotary member upon which it rests and by which'it is rotated.

While I have embodied my invention in a cream separator, it will be seen that the selfbalancing feature can be employed for other kinds of machinery, such as may have high s eed rotary devices other than bowls, and

tiat in the following claims I do not limit myself to a machine for this purpose, except where so specified.

It will be understood, of course, that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described, except as expressly stated in the claims as follows:

What I claim as my invention is: 1. A machine for the purpose specified,

having a rotary driven centrifugal member, a

spindle supported for free and unopposed latd se eral 1novement,within limits, an -centering rotation upon its lower end, and meansfor supporting the spindle against endwise movement.

2. A machine for. the pur ose specified,

having a rotary driven centri ugal member,

provided at its bottom with a downwardly extending spindle which is free from lateral thrust, within limits, and supported for selfcentering rotation, means for communicating '50 power to the lower end of saidspindle and supporting the same against endwise movement.

3. A machine for the purpose specified,

- having a rotary driven centrifugal member, a

rotary and downwardly extending spindle supported for free and self-centering rotation, an outer spindle in which the said first.

mentioned spin le is inclosed, with sufficient space between the twospindles to permit the 0 inner spindle to find its center 0' rotation,

bearings for the upper and lower ends of said 4 outer spindle, anc means for communicating power to the outer spindle to rotate the said member. 5 4. A machine for the purpose specified, having a rotary driven centrifugal member, a rotary spindle supportedfor lateral movement and self-centering rotation, means at the up- 4 per end of the spindle for steadying and sup porting the same in an approximately vertical and central position while at rest, or while starting to rotate, permitting unopposed'lateral movement of thespindle within limits, and means for su porting and communicate ing power to the l bwer end of said spindle t rotate said member.

5. A machine for the'purpose specified,

having a rotary-driven centrifugal member, an u )right rotary .spmdle extending downwardly from the bottom of said member,

means for supporting said spindle for lateral movement, within limits, and self-centering rotation, a worm gearing for communicatm power to said supportmg means torotate sai spindle, means foroperating said wormgearin to rotate the said spindle, and means for ho ding the spindle against endwise vertical displacement.

6. In a cream separator, an upright rotary member which is movable sidewise free from lateral thrust, within limits, and supported at its lower end for self-centering rotation about I a vertical axis, and a rotatable support on which the lower end of said member rests with sufficient looseness to permit its upper end to move laterally.

7. In a cream separator, a self-centering rotary device which is movable sidewise free from lateral thrust, within limits, and supported at its lower end, a rotary member on i which the lower end of said device rests with sufficient looseness to permit its upper end to move laterally, and means for communicating motion to said rotary member torotate the said device.

8. In a cream separator, an upright device which is movable sidewise free from lateral thrust, within limits, and supported for selfcentering rotation about a vertical axis, a rotary member by which the device is supported, and meansfor communicating motion to said member to rotate the said device.

9. In a cream separator having a rotary driven centrifugal member, a rotary driven s indle for said member, a power spindle provided with meanson which the lower end of said driven spindle rests, and means for rotating the power spindle to communicate the motion therefrom'to the driven spindle, said driven spindle being free to move sidewise uno posed, within limits, to balance itself on. the ower end thereof.

10. A machine for the purpose specified, having a rotary driven centrifugal member, a rotary driven spindle therefor, a rotary supporting member on which the lower end of said spindle is supported, and means for rotating said member, there being provisions for communicating the rotary motion from thesupporting member to the spindle, and said driven spindle being movable sidewise free from lateral thrust, within limits, and there: by adapted to balance itself on the lower end thereof.

11'. A machine for the purpose specified,

-a power spindle provided with means on which the lower end of the" driven-spindle-is supported, bearingsfor said power spindle, and means for rotating the power spindle at high speed to rotate. the'dri'ven spindle.

12.. A rotarycentrifugal member,- a s indle therefor mounted'for rotation and sligiit lateral movement 'suflicient to enable the member to find the true vertical axis of rotation,

means applied to the lower end of thespin- 1 30 dle to so rotate the same that the said member is balanced, and a spring pressed bearing for the upper end of said spindle, said bearing being adjusted to. permit the spindle to have a limited lateral movement free from opposition by the springs thereof.

13. A rotary centrifugal membena'spindle therefor mounted for rotation and slight lateral movement suflicient to enable the member to find the true vertical axis of rotation, means applied to the lower end of the spindle for so rotating the same that the said member is balanced, and s )ring means for normally holding the spindle in a substantially upright position, said sprin means being adjusted to permit the spindfia to have a limitedlateral movement or play free from spring resistance or opposition thereto.

14. A rotary centrifugal member, a spindle therefor mounted for rotation and slight lateral movement sufficient to enable the memher to find the true vertical axis of rotation,

but held against endwise movement, a portion of said lateral movement being free and unopposed, and means for efiecting such a transmission of power to ,said spindle that the said member-is balanced, said member thereby being free from lateral thrust by the transmission of power thereto.

15. A rotary centrifugal member, a spindle therefor mounted for rotation and slight lateral movement sufficient to enable the member to find the true vertical axis. of rotation, but held against endwise movement, a portion of said lateral movement being, free and unopposed, mechanical power transmitting devices, and means for so communicating power to said spindle that the said member is balanced, said member thereby being free from lateral thrust by the transmission of power thereto.

Signed by me at Chipago, Illinois, this 19th day of January, 1907.

HU BERT A.- MYERS.

Witnesses:

S. LEWIS, ALBERT JOHN SAUSER. 

